Refrigerating apparatus



Dec. 8, 1931. BLACKMQRE 1,835,588

REF RIGERATING APPARATUS Original Filed June 15 1922 INVENTOR 0, 4 I'm ORNEY 4 Patented Dec. 8, 1931 UNITED STATES LLOYD BLAGKMORE, OF DETROIT, MICHIGAN, ASSIGNOR TO FRIG-IDAIRE OI DAYTON, 0310, A. OORPORATION OF DELAWARE conronunon,

REFRIGERATIN G APPARATU Original application filed June is, 1922,

be obtained and to provide for a relatively high degree of change. in the adjustment quickly.

Another object is to provide a control apparatus having an adjustable device for the normal control thereof and a modifying device for the apparatus which when actuated will not disturb the setting of theadj ustable device.

The invention contemplates a control ap-' paratus having an operatin member and an adjustable resistance mec anism therefor which normally regulates the operation of the o crating member, in combination with a yie dable resistance device for modif ing the operation of the operating member, w ich can be moved at will into and out of effective operative relation with the operating memher. This device is arranged so that it Will not disturb the normal setting of the adjustable resistance mechanism.

Further objects and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, wherein a prefered form of the present invention is clearly shown. 1

The present invention is herein shown for illustrating purposes only, in connection with a refrigerating system wherein it is desirable to provide normally a certain tem- -4o perature and wherein it is desirable at times to obtain temporarily a. difierent temperature. a

In the drawings: H

Fig.1 is a front elevation of a refrigerator,

with parts broken away, and

Serial No. 568,534. Divided and this application flied January 24, 1928. Serial No. 249,170.

Fig. 2 is a detail view, on an enlarged scale.

The adjusting device will take different forms to accommodate the different types of control mechanism but in any event the lever.

or handle for operating the adjusting mechanism will be located in a position convenient to the operator. The device is preferably provided with a plate or dial located on the refrigerator having suitable legends thereon indicating to what position to move the hand or lever for fast or slow freezing, as is clearly indicated on Fig. 2 f the drawings.

For simplicity of i lustration and convenience in description, the refrigerating mechanism is shown more or less diagrammatically and only such parts of the same are shown as are necessary to an understanding of the construction and operation of my invention and its application to said mechanism. The device is shown as being associated with an automatically operated domestic refrigerator of'the compression type in which a fluid or well-known construction.

Since the specific construction of the controlling mechanism constitutes no part of my invention it is not t ought necessary to describe all the details of said mechanism. The controlling mechanism shown is that employed in a well-known make of refrigerators now on the market and is the same as that disclosed in application Serial No. 146,715 of Bechtold and Mellowes, filed February 5,

I 1917, now Patent No. 1,478,421, dated December 25, 1923, in which a pressure actuated mechanism, controlled by a weight 17 is employed for controlling the water valve and in which a fluid thermostat located within the refrigerator is employed to operate the electric switch for controlling the compressing motor, said means includinga yieldable resistance device arranged to be movable at will 10. into and out of effective operative relation with said member. As shown, a diaphragm 18 is adapted to be expanded by fluid pressure to "operate the lever arm 20 on which is secured the weight 21. The forward end of the arm has attached thereto the weight 22' to which is connected the link 23 which operates an electric switch located in the switch box 24.

When the fluid in the thermostat expands it elevates the lever 20 and permits the weight 22 to carry the switch operating link 23 downwardly to close the switch and when the fluid in the thermostat cools it contracts and permits the weight 21 to descend thus causing the link 23 to be elevated to open the switch. The temperatures at which the electric switch is opened and closed depends upon the adjustment of the control mechanism. In practice, the device is properly adjusted at the factory and when once adjusted the adjustment is; not to be disturbed except by, or under the supervision of, an expert. It is often desirable, however, to temporarily adjust the control so that the refrigerator may be temporarily maintained at a considerably lower temperature, as when the user wishes to hasten the freezing process. In order to accomplish this temporary adjustment without the assistance of an expert, suitable mechanism arranged within convenient reach of the operator is provided whereby the control mechanismmay be adjusted with facility, at the will of the operator.

In the embodiment disclosed, this mechanism comprises a resilient member such as the spring to be connected to the outer end of the lever arm 20 by any suitable means, as the link 26, which extends through an enlarged opening 26a in said lever arm. The link is provided at its lower end with nuts whereby the effec- .tiveopera'tion of said spring may be properly adjusted. The upper endof said spring is adapted to be connected to the Outer end of 5 anarm 27 on the shaft 28. The shaft 28 is journaled in the front wall 29'of the refrigerator and has the operatinghandle 30 attached to'the front end thereof.

Aii suitable "means may provided for retaining the handle in adjusted position. As

' shown, a plate or quadrant 31 having suitable legends thereon is secured to the front face of the wall 29 and may have the shaft 28 jour-' naled therein. The-plate or quadrant 31 is provided with means for holding the handle 25,.the lower end of which is adapted 30 in any one of a plurality of positions. As shown, the plate or quadrant 1S provided at the sides thereof with the stops 32 and 33 .for limiting the downward movement of the handle when it is in either extreme position. The lever and arm are so arranged that when the arm is on the stop 33 the tension of the spring will hold the handle against said stop. While the handle is shown as being held in only two positions it is understood that it may be otherwise.

During the normal operation of the refrigerator the handle 30 is in the position shown in Fig. 1 in which the spring is not in tension and the rod 26 is free to slide through the opening 2611' as the lever 20 moves up and down during its normal operation.

, When it is desired that the temperature of the refrigerator shall be lowered 1n order to hasten the freezing process, or, for any other reason it is desirable to lower the temperature of the refrigerator, the handle 30 is moved to the right in contact with the stop 33, as shown in Fig. 2, which will place the spring 25 under tension and will thus assist in supporting the weight 20. This will permit the fluid thermostat to lift the weight 21 at lower temperatures to open and close the switch for the compressing 'motor and will thus result in materially lowering the temperature of the interior of the refrigerator. The temperatures at which the freezin chamber will now be maintained will depen on the adjustment of the tension of the spring 25 but in any event, water, desserts, etc. placed within the refrigerating chamber may befrozen in a much shorter period of time than is possible in the normal operation of the refrigerator.

As previously stated herein, the present invention is shown as applied to a refrigerating system merely for the purpose of illustrating a use thereof and it is to be understood that such control a'pparatusis equally applicable toother typesof systems. 2

While the form of embodiment of the invention as herein disclosed constitutes a preferred form, it is to be understood that other forms might be adopted, all coming within the scope of the claims which follow.

What is claimed is as follows:

1. A control apparatus including a movable operating member, means for operating said member, means for modifying the operation of said member including a spring, a dial,

means-for moving the spring into and out of able operating member,means for operating said member, resistance means for modifyingthe operation of said member,-a dial, means for varyin the efi'ert of said resistance means, sai last. means also being operable for moving the resistance means into andout of effective operative relation with said operating member throughout the entire ran 8 of movement of the operating member, said last means including means cooperatin with the dial for indicat ng the position of t e resistance means.

In testimony whereof I hereto aflix my signature.

' LLOYD BLAGKMORE; 

